The wildfires in our backyard

I wanted to call your attention to the front-page package (see page here) today by staff reporter Megan Matteucci and staff photographer Richard Burkhart. They made two trips last week to the wildfire areas southwest of the Savannah area. They stayed in the camps with the firefighters and went out on the lines with them as they battled blazes that have now consumed over 200,000 acres.

The two were able to bring us all a glimpse of the tough conditions all the firefighters face. You also have to wonder what it will be like for the residents of those areas when they return home. What were once lush woodlands are now pitted, burnt craters. The peat bogs could burn for months and the dangers will lurk there long after the fire is gone.

Richard's photographs show the devastation in detail, and I urge you to click on the slideshow adjacent to the story to see and hear more about the experience.